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Update: House fire on 51st SW in Brace Point ruled arson; 1 arrested

(1st photo from scene, by Patrick Sand for WSB)9:36 PM:Seattle Fire is responding to a reported house fire in the 10000 block of 51st SW (map). It’s on a dead-end street in Brace Point. More to come.

(This photo & next 2, by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)9:45 PM UPDATE: Via scanner, firefighters report they have the fire “knocked down.” Our crew has just arrived and sees some flames from a corner of the roof on the 3-story house. Strong smell of smoke even here in upper Fauntleroy more than a mile north.

10:12 PM UPDATE: Nobody was home when this started, our crew at the scene has been told. Flames are out now. (Added: Video of firefighters on the roof – note the smoke and also the water rushing down the driveway:)

SFD’s investigator is there to try to figure out how it started.

11:53 PM UPDATE: No cause announced yet; the investigation is still under way, per SFD.

WEDNESDAY 10:06 AM: Police have announced they believe this was arson – finding a gas can inside the house – and a resident of the home has been arrested. Details on SPD Blotter.

10:23 AM UPDATE: We’ve checked the background of the 54-year-old woman who is in jail for investigation of arson; she does not appear to have a criminal record.

12:32 PM UPDATE: Since she wasn’t booked until this morning, her bail hearing won’t be until tomorrow, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE: Her bail was set today at $100,000, according to the jail register. We won’t have other details from prosecutors until Friday.

As noted in the SPD Blotter item to which we have linked and from which all media outlets are getting info on the arrest, them and us and whomever else is reporting on it – the person in jail for investigation of arson is on record as an owner of the home. I have added some information beyond that and we’ll be checking with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to see if she’ll have a bail hearing this afternoon. – TR

In regards to the ruling of the arrested woman, her bail has been denied. I was the first one to report the fire after seeing it from the front door window and also inform the fire marshals of someone I had noticed prior to the fire. It’s sad to say that I do know the woman and her family very well.

The woman was denied bail and does have mental problems. I was the first person to report of the fire and to be questioned by the firefighters and two others. I provided information that led to the beginnings of suspecting the woman. I’m sad to say that I do know the woman and her family very well.

Suji, thanks. “Bail denied” is the initial status for most accused of major crimes, and I know that’s what is on the register for her, but the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said that since she was booked this morning, her bail hearing – at which a bail amount almost certainly WILL be set – would be tomorrow. They are the official source of that information for those of us in the media. Once there is a bail hearing, they also usually release the probable-cause documentation that is supplied to the judge for her/his decision on bail, and that’s where we get a few more details of what happened. If mental-health trouble renders someone incompetent to stand trial, that generally will be determined as they go through the system. – TR

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